MADISON - The Wisconsin Assembly has passed a bill that would end a requirement that schools teach for 180 days a year or lose state funding.

The Republican measure would allow schools to extend their days rather than force them to stay open later in the summer to make up time lost to weather-related closings and parent-teacher conferences. Schools that don't meet the hourly quota would still lose state aid.

Rural schools support the proposal as a way of saving money by keeping doors closed and avoiding higher transportation costs.

The Senate passed the bill last week on a voice vote. The Assembly approved it on a voice vote Tuesday. It now goes to Gov. Scott Walker.

LINCOLN COUNTY - We can add one more northern Wisconsin county to the list of those who finished the recount.

Lincoln County finished up Wednesday afternoon, and it didn't see much change.

Lincoln County Clerk Chris Marlowe said the totals fluctuated a bit within each town, but county-wide each presidential candidate gained onevote.

Marlowe said although it was tedious,he learned a lot.

"You know when we do our training and discuss all these things it's always, we always reference the possibility of a count, a recount," Marlowe said. "And it's one thing referencing a recount and it's another thing actually doing the recount."

Lincoln County re-counted all the votes by hand. There were 16 volunteers, and they went through close to 15,000 votes.

The statewide recount cost Jill Stein about $3.5 million.

"You know, at the end of the day was it worth the money, I don't think so, but you know, we gained experience," Marlowe said.

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